JPS6244675B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a vending machine, and in particular, when collecting coins at the end of the business day, by leaving some or all of the coins in the machine, the machine can be used the next day. This invention relates to a vending machine that eliminates the need to prepare change.

[Prior art] Conventionally, coins are collected in automatic ticket vending machines installed at train stations, etc., by collecting all the coins in the automatic ticket vending machine after the day's operation ends, and then installing the collected coins separately. A portion of the collected coins are counted using a coin counting machine and stored again in a coin supply cassette to be used as a reserve for change.

However, in the conventional type, it is necessary to prepare change for the next day when collecting coins, which makes the coin collection procedure complicated and increases the burden on the staff of the automatic ticket vending machine.

Therefore, when collecting coins, all coins remaining in the machine are ejected through a change machine and counted.
A coin counting management device for a vending machine has been proposed in which the ejecting path is distributed to the change replenishing machine side of the device to circulate and replenish the coins into the machine.
55-154685).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since this management device leaves coins in a circulating manner, it requires a circulation mechanism, which increases the size of the device and has the disadvantages of requiring a relatively long time for processing. Ta.

In view of the above-mentioned problems with the conventional type, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for change preparation work when collecting coins and the work of counting collected coins using a coin counter, etc., in a vending machine without increasing the size of the device. The objective is to reduce the burden on staff and shorten the processing time for collecting equipment.

[Means and actions for solving problems] The configuration of the present invention will be explained based on FIG.

In the vending machine of the present invention, the customer's input into the coin processing device is counted by the input coin counting means, and the customer's change for the purchase is calculated by the input coin counting means.
The coins discharged from the coin processing device, such as single coins and collected coins operated by the clerk, are counted by the discharged coin number counting means. Further, the number of coins set and additionally set into the coin processing device by the clerk is inputted by the clerk via the coin number input means.
The calculation means calculates a new number of accumulated coins based on the counted value of each of these counting means, the input value from the coin number input means, and the number of accumulated coins stored in the accumulated coin number storage means, and stores the number of accumulated coins. Update the memory contents of the means. Thereby, the number of coins staying in the coin processing device is always stored in the staying coin number storage means.

The comparison means compares the set number of uncollected coins set in the uncollected coin number setting means and the latest number of retained coins. When the clerk operates the collection switch, the control means refers to the output of the comparison means for each type of coin, and if the number of accumulated coins is greater than the set number of uncollected coins, causes the coin processing device to start a coin discharging operation. When the number of accumulated coins is equal to or less than the set number of uncollected coins, the coin processing device is made to stop the coin discharging operation.

As a result, at the end of this collection operation, the coin processing device stores, for each coin type, the smaller number of coins remaining at the start of the collection operation and the number of coins preset in the uncollected coin number setting means. coins remain.

In other words, the change necessary to operate the vending machine the next day can be automatically left in the vending machine.

Furthermore, since the number of accumulated coins is always known as stored information in the storage means, it is also possible to calculate and display or print the number of collected coins.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the work of preparing change and counting the collected coins when collecting coins is no longer necessary, and the burden on the staff can be significantly reduced. Further, since the present invention can be implemented without adding any special mechanism, such as a coin circulation mechanism, to a conventional vending machine, the device does not become larger. Furthermore, in the present invention, only the coins that exceed the preset number of coins accumulated in the device are collected from among the coins accumulated in the device at the time of coin recovery. Compared to the case where coins are collected, the processing time for coin collection can be significantly shortened. This results in
According to the present invention, the burden on the staff can be significantly reduced, especially in situations where the staff must remain attached to the machine until the coin collection process is completed for security reasons.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described using the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an automatic ticket vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automatic ticket vending machine 1 shown in the figure includes a customer service operation section 11, a coin processing device 12, an attendant operation section 13,
50 yen safe 14, 100 yen safe 15, 10 yen safe 16,
and a control circuit 17.

The customer service operation section 11 is provided with a push button (not shown) for specifying a ticket type, and a receiving tray 111 is provided at the bottom.

The coin processing device 12 includes a coin verification unit 121, a sorting mechanism 122, a temporary holding section 123, and a 50 yen change machine 1.
24, 100 yen change machine 125, 10 yen change machine 12
6. 50 yen distribution Fratupa 127, 100 yen distribution Fratupa 128, 10 yen distribution Fratupa 129
and a belt conveyor 130.

The staff operation unit 13 includes a collection switch (not shown),
A numeric keypad, a switch for setting the number of uncollected coins, etc. are provided. The numeric keypad is for inputting the number of coins set or additionally set by the clerk when coins are set or additionally set in the hardening processing device 12, or for inputting the number of uncollected coins when setting the number of uncollected coins. It is.

The control circuit 17 also includes a central processing unit 18, a memory 19, a coin processing device interface 20, and an attendant operation interface 21.

Furthermore, the sorting mechanism 12 of the coin processing device 12
The output section of each change mechanism 124, 125, 126 is provided with a 50 yen counting sensor S1, 100 yen counting sensor S2, and 10 yen counting sensor S3, and the output section of each change mechanism 124, 125, 126 is provided with a 50 yen change counting sensor S4. ,
A 100 yen change counting sensor S5 and a 10 yen change counting sensor S6 are provided.

FIG. 2 shows the control circuit 1 of the automatic ticket vending machine 1 shown in FIG.
7 shows each storage area of the memory 19 provided in the memory 7. That is, the memory 19 stores, for each coin, the cumulative number of coins A ₁₀ , A ₅₀ , A ₁₀₀ , the cumulative number of coins released as change B ₁₀ , B ₅₀ , B ₁₀₀ , and the cumulative number of coins released by the clerk by a single release operation. Single cumulative number indicating the number of coins
C ₁₀ , C ₅₀ , C ₁₀₀ , number of canceled coins D ₁₀ , D ₅₀ , D ₁₀₀ ,
Number of change reserves E ₁₀ , E ₅₀ , E ₁₀₀ , Number of uncollected coins F ₁₀ , F ₅₀ , F ₁₀₀ , Total number of collected coins G ₁₀ , G ₅₀ ,
G ₁₀₀ , number of accumulated coins H ₁₀ , H ₅₀ , H ₁₀₀ , set number of uncollected coins I ₁₀ , I ₅₀ , I ₁₀₀ , number of change M ₁₀ , M ₅₀ ,
Each storage area such as _M100 is provided.

In such an automatic ticket vending machine, the coins inserted by the purchasing customer are sorted by type in the sorting mechanism 122 and stored in the temporary holding section 123, but at this time, each counting sensor S1, S2, S3 is used to sort the coins by type. It is counted separately and added to each cumulative number A ₁₀ , A ₅₀ , A ₁₀₀ in the memory 19.

When a purchase operation is performed, the amount of money the purchaser has input minus the ticket fee to be purchased is released as change from each of the change machines 124 to 126 to the tray 111. In this case, each coin released is counted by the sensors S4, S5, and S6, and the total number of coins released in the memory 19 is B ₁₀ ,
Added to B ₅₀ and B ₁₀₀ . Further, at this time, the flappers 127 to 129 are arranged so that the coins come out toward the receiving tray 111.

If the purchaser interrupts the purchase midway and cancels the purchase, the inserted coins are discharged from the one-time holding section 123 to the receiving tray 111 via the flappers 127 to 129. In this case, each number of coins inserted is already
Since they are counted as D ₁₀ , D ₅₀ , and D ₁₀₀ , a cancellation signal is sent to the control circuit 17 and subtracted from the total number of each coin.

If an abnormality occurs in the equipment during the purchase operation and the station staff performs a single-shot coin ejection operation before the normal operation is completed, the number of single-shot coins is detected by each sensor S4, S5, and S6 and stored in the memory 19. This will be added to the single-shot cumulative number C ₁₀ , C ₅₀ , and C ₁₀₀ .

Next, the coin collection system in the automatic ticket vending machine shown in FIG. 1 will be explained, including the above-mentioned general operations, using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 to 7.

First, as shown in Figure 3, at the beginning of the operation of the ticket vending machine, the number of accumulated coins H ₁₀ at the end of collection on the previous day,
F ₁₀ , with H ₅₀ and H ₁₀₀ as the number of uncollected coins, respectively.
Store in F ₅₀ and F ₁₀₀ . When the station staff newly sets a change reserve, the number of coins set E ₁₀ , E ₅₀ , E ₁₀₀ is inputted from the staff operation section 13 and stored in the memory 19. With this, the automatic ticket vending machine is ready for operation.

Next, when the purchaser inserts a coin to purchase a ticket, each coin is detected by counting sensors S1 to S3, and the cumulative number of inserted coins A ₁₀ , A ₅₀ , A ₁₀₀ and cancellation are determined according to each coin inserted. Number of coins D ₁₀ , D ₅₀ ,
D ₁₀₀ is added by 1.

When the purchaser presses the cancel button to instruct cancellation, the number of canceled coins D ₁₀ , D ₅₀ , D ₁₀₀ is subtracted from the cumulative number of input coins A ₁₀ , A ₅₀ , A ₁₀₀ , respectively, and then D ₁₀ , D Set all contents of ₅₀ and D ₁₀₀ to 0.

Next, as shown in Figure 4, if the purchaser selects a ticket by pressing the ticket type designation button, the specified ticket is issued, the change amount is calculated, and each coin is Change memory for each
M ₁₀ , M ₅₀ , and M ₁₀₀ are set, and the canceled coin numbers D ₁₀ , D ₅₀ , and D ₁₀₀ are cleared to 0. Furthermore, the change memory set in this way
It is sequentially determined whether M ₁₀ , M ₅₀ , M ₁₀₀ are 0 or not, and change is discharged one by one for each coin, and change memories M ₁₀ , M ₅₀ , M ₁₀₀ corresponding to each coin discharge are created.
Subtract the contents of by 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, each time change is released, the counting sensor S4,
In S5 and S6, the fact that a coin has been released and its type are detected, and 1 is added to the cumulative number of change released B ₁₀ , B ₅₀ , B ₁₀₀ corresponding to the released coin.
This change release operation is performed in the change memory _M10 ,
This is repeated until the contents of M ₅₀ and M ₁₀₀ become 0.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, it is determined whether a single coin issuance operation has been performed, and if the operation has been performed, the coin specified by the operation is ejected, and the counting sensor S4 , S5, and S6, and 1 is added to the corresponding single-shot cumulative numbers C ₁₀ , C ₅₀ , and C ₁₀₀ . Such processing is performed for each single issue operation.

Next, it is determined whether or not the station staff is instructing coin collection by pressing the collection switch on the staff operation section 13. If this instruction is given, the distribution flapper 12 will be activated as shown in FIG.
7 to 129 on the collection side, that is, the coin is in the safe 1
Set the coins so that they fall into 4, 15, 16, and put 1 coin.
Release one by one. When one coin is released, the type of the released coin is detected by the counting sensors S4 to S6, and the corresponding cumulative number of collected coins G ₁₀ , G ₅₀ ,
Add 1 to the contents of G ₁₀₀ . The number of coins remaining in the automatic ticket vending machine when coins are being collected H ₁₀ ,
H ₅₀ and H ₁₀₀ are each expressed by the following equations.

10 yen: H ₁₀ = F ₁₀ + E ₁₀ + A ₁₀ −B ₁₀ −C ₁₀ −G ₁₀
……(1) 50 yen: H ₅₀ =F ₅₀ +E ₅₀ +A ₅₀ −B ₅₀ −C ₅₀ −G ₅₀
...(2) 100 yen: H ₁₀₀ = F ₁₀₀ + E ₁₀₀ + A ₁₀₀ −B ₁₀₀ −C ₁₀₀ −G ₁₀₀ ...(3) Therefore, using the above formula, for each coin,
First, the number of retained coins H ₁₀ , H ₅₀ , H ₁₀₀ is counted and stored in the memory 19, and then the set number of uncollected coins I ₁₀ , I ₅₀ , I for which each number of retained coins is stored in advance in the memory 19. When the change becomes less than or equal to ₁₀₀ , the change motor for the corresponding coin is turned off to stop dispensing the coin. Such a collection operation is performed for each coin one by one, and when the collection is completed, the memory contents such as A ₁₀ , A ₅₀ , A ₁₀₀ are totaled and printed as shown in Figure 7, and then H ₁₀ , _H50 ,
Clears memory contents to 0 except for H ₁₀₀ , I ₁₀ , I ₅₀ , I ₁₀₀ , etc.
clear and end the process.

Therefore, by setting in advance the number of coins I ₁₀ , I ₅₀ , I ₁₀₀ to be kept as change reserve for the next day's operation, the required number of coins can be set without collecting all the coins in the automatic ticket vending machine. It becomes possible to automatically hold coins.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic ticket vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a memory map showing the storage data area in the memory of the device of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing operations such as coin collection processing in the apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram for explaining the configuration of the present invention. 1: Automatic ticket vending machine, 11: Customer service operation section, 12: Coin processing device, 13: Staff operation section, 14: 50 yen safe, 15: 100 yen safe, 16: 10 yen safe, 17:
control circuit, 18: central processing unit, 19: memory,
20: Coin processing device interface, 21: Attendant operation unit interface, 111: Receiver, 121:
Validation unit, 122: Sorting mechanism, 123: Temporary holding section, 124: 50 yen change machine, 125: 100 yen change machine, 126: 10 yen change machine, 127: 50 yen distribution flat, 128: 100 yen distribution flat , 129: 10 yen distribution flatspa, 130:
Belt conveyor, S1: 50 yen counting sensor, S2:
100 yen counting sensor, S3: 10 yen counting sensor, S
4: 50 yen change counting sensor, S5: 100 yen change counting sensor, S6: 10 yen change counting sensor,
A ₁₀ , A ₅₀ , A ₁₀₀ : Storage area for the cumulative number of coins inserted,
B ₁₀ , B ₅₀ , B ₁₀₀ : storage area for the cumulative number of change issued;
C ₁₀ , C ₅₀ , C ₁₀₀ : Single-shot cumulative number storage area, D ₁₀ ,
D ₅₀ , D ₁₀₀ : storage area for the number of canceled coins, E ₁₀ , E ₅₀ ,
E ₁₀₀ : Change reserve number storage area, F ₁₀ , F ₅₀ ,
F ₁₀₀ : Storage area for the number of uncollected coins, G ₁₀ , G ₅₀ ,
G ₁₀₀ : Storage area for cumulative number of collected coins, H ₁₀ , H ₅₀ ,
_H100 : Storage area for the number of accumulated coins, _I10 , _I50 , _I100 : Storage area for the set number of uncollected coins, _{M1010, M50} , _M100 : Storage area for the number of change.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A coin processing device that sorts, stores, and releases coins that have been inserted and set, means for counting the number of coins inserted into the coin processing device by type, and means for counting the number of coins ejected from the coin processing device by type. Separate counting means, coin number input means, accumulated coin number storage means, count information of each of the above counting means, set of coins by type and additional set number information inputted from the input means into the coin processing device, and the storage thereof. calculation means for calculating the number of coins staying in the coin processing device by type based on information on the number of coins stored in the means and storing the number in the storage means; uncollected coin number setting means; and the staying coins. A comparison means for comparing whether the number of uncollected coins is equal to or less than the set number of uncollected coins set in the setting means, a collection switch, and when the collection switch is operated, the coin processing device is caused to start a coin discharging operation. and a control means for stopping the coin discharging operation when the number of accumulated coins for each type of coin becomes less than or equal to the number of uncollected coins, and when collecting the accumulated coins in the coin processing device, A vending machine characterized in that part or all of the accumulated coins according to the number set in the collected coin number setting means are left as a change reserve.